Clock with an illuminated dial



March 4, 1969 B. l. SANDOR CLOCK WITH AN ILLUMINATED DIM-y Filed March31, 1967 United States Patent Oflice 3,430,433 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 IClaims Int. Cl. G04]: 19/34, 19/30 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adecorative clock and lighting fixture. The hands of the timepiece arehiddenfrom view, but their relative positions are indicated by castingtheir shadows upon an illuminated dial face.

This invention generally relates to a decorative time- ICCC. p An objectof this invention is to provide a clock of unusual design for use as aconversation piece.

A further object of this invention is to provide a decorative clockcharacterized by the absence of standard hands for indicating time.

A still further. object of this invention is to provide a decorativeclock whose hands are hidden from view, but whose images are projectedonto a dial face to reveal their relative positions and indicate thetime.

.Yet another object of this invention is to provide a combinationtimepiece and lighting fixture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is ;a perspective view of the clock comprising the subjectmatter of the present invention;

FIGURE 2. is a side view in elevation of the clock shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clock as seen alongthe plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 isa view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating a slightlymodified form of the clock comprising the subject of the instantinvention.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate like eler nentsthroughout the several views, the clock of the present invention isgenerally indicated in FIGURE 1 by the numeral .10. i

The clock includes a dial face 12, which can be of any desired geometricshape. Indicia 14 is provided on the front surface 13 of dial face 12 torepresent standard hour and minute divisions of time.

The center of dial face 12 has an annular opening -16. A series ofconcentric tubes 18, 20, 22 and 23 project through opening 16 and aresupported on a generally U-shaped bracket 24 secured to rear surface ofdial face 12. Outer tube 18 is rotatively supported in bore 26 in oneleg of bracket 24, while the innermost tube 23 is supported in bore 28in the other leg of bracket 24.

The tubes are adapted to rotate relative to each other. Outer tube 18 isrotatively mounted on Teflon bearings 30 and 32, at its forward andrearward ends, respectively. Bearings 30 and 32 are secured to tube 20.Similarly, tube is rotatively mounted on Teflon bearings 34 and 36, atits forward and rearward. ends, respectively. Bearings 34 and 36 aresecured to tube 22. Tube 22 is rotatively mounted on Teflon bearings 38and 40 at its forward and rearward ends, respectively. Bearings 38 and40' are mounted on tube 23.

At its forward end, tube 18 is provided with an integral finger 42,which constitutes the hour hand of clock 10. Finger 44 is integrallyconnected to the forward end of tube 20, and comprises the minute handof the clock.

The finger 46, integrally secured to the forward end of tube 22,provides the second hand.

Tube 23 of electrical conducing material, has its interior threaded atits forward end 48 to form a socket for reception of the threaded end oflight bulb '50. A terminal block 52, having an electrical contact 54 issecured to the interior of tube 23 immediately behind its threaded end48. An electrical conduit 56 is connected through terminal block 52 tocontact 54 and emerges from the rear of tube 23 for connection to astandard male electrical plug. An electrical conduit 58 from the maleplug is secured to the wall of tube 23, and completes a series circuitthrough the wall of tube 23, the threaded end of bulb 50, contact 54 andconduit 56.

A light reflector 60 is provided with a spring clip 62 secured to bulb50. As shown in FIGURE 3, reflector 60- is of a dimension to hidefingers 42, 44 and 46 from view, when looking at the front surface 13 ofdial face 12.

The mechanism for rotating the clock hands and the various tubes isdriven by an electric motor 64 secured to a housing 66 which enclosesthe mechanism and bracket 24. The housing 66 is secured to rear surface15 of dial face 12.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, motor shaft 68 drives three gears 70, 72 and74. Gear 74 is mounted directly on motor shaft 68, while gear 72 ismounted on concentric sleeve 76, and gear 70 on concentric sleeve 78.Sleeve 76 is keyed to motor shaft 68 and sleeve 78 is keyed to sleeve76.

Gear 74 meshes with gear 80 secured to the rear end of tube 18. Gear 72is in mesh with gear 82 secured to the rear end of tube 20. Tube 22 isrotated by gear 84, fixed to its rear end and in mesh with gear 70.

In operation, actuation of motor 64 will rotate gears 70, 72 and 74.These gears in turn will rotatably drive tubes 22, 20 and 18 through themedium of gears 84, 82, and 80. Rotation of tubes 22, 20 and 18 willcause the fingers 46, 44 and 42 to rotate as the hands of clock 10.

The gears of the drive mechanism are calibrated so that tube 22 rotatessixty times as fast as tube 20, which in turn, rotates sixty timesfaster than tube 18.

When light bulb 50 is actuated, light will be reflected from reflector60 past rotating fingers 42, 44, 46, and the light will fall upon andilluminate the front surfaces 13 of dial face 12. The relative positionsof fingers 42, 44 and 46 will be cast as shadows 86, 88 and 90 on dialface 12 adjacent indicia 14 to indicate the time.

Since hands or fingers 42, 44, and 46 are concealed by reflector 60 anair of mystery is created by the proection of images 86, 88, and 90 ontodial face 12. Further, the illuminated dial face 12 and shadows providea pleasing decorative effect, as well as providing light.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 4, a singletube 92 passes through the center of dial face 12' and is supported atits rear in an L- shaped bracket 96. A single finger 98 is integrallysecured to the front end of tube 92.

A parabolic reflector 100 is supported by a rod 102 secured to atransparent base plate 104 fixed to the front of tube 92.

Light is furnished by a bulb 106 threaded in a socket 108 within housing110 connected to the upstanding leg of bracket 96. Rotation of tube 92is accomplished through the medium of gear 112 fixed to the rear end oftube 92. An electric motor 66 and housing 68 are also provided as shownin FIGURE 2, and the shaft of the motor carries a drive gear in meshwith gear 112.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 4 issubstantially identical to that shown in FIGURES 1-3.

Light is transmitted by bulb 106 to reflector 100 through the interiorof tube 92. The light is reflected by reflector 100 onto dial face 12'casting the shadow of finger 98.

The clock shown in FIGURE 4 is in the nature of a sun dial whichprovides it with further appeal and decorative effect. Gear 112 can becalibrated so that finger 98 moves through A of 360 every hour, or anypredetermined fraction of 360 depending upon the unit of time to bemeasured.

I claim:

1. A clock comprising a dial face provided with indicia to indicateincrements of time, support means projecting forwardly from said dialface, at least one clock hand fixed to said support means in front ofsaid dial face, drive means operatively connected to said support meansfor rotating it, a light source, and means in front of said supportmeans normally concealing said clock hand when viewing said dial face infront elevation for reflecting the light from said source past saidclock hand onto said dial face, thereby illuminating said dial face andcasting the shadow of said clock hand on said dial face adjacent theindicia thereon.

2. A clock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support meansincludes four concentric tubes mounted on each other for relativerotation, a clock hand fixed to each of three of said tubes in front ofsaid dial face, and said drive means being operatively connected to saidthree tubes for rotating them at different speeds.

3. A clock in accordance with claim 2 wherein said light source isthreadedly connected to the end of said fourth tube and extendsforwardly of said clock hands, means in said fourth tube forestablishing an electrical circuit through said light source, and saidlight reflecting means being mounted on said light source.

4. A clock in accordance with claim 3 wherein each tube is rotativelymounted on Teflon bearings secured to the tube therebeneath.

5. A clock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support meansincludes a tube, means for mounting said light source on the rearsurface of said dial face in line with one end of said tube, and meansmounting said light reflection means on the other end of said tube infront of said clock hand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD B. WILKINSON, PrimaryExaminer.

EDITH C. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 2406.43

